| FORP Rouge Park News: - Friends of Rouge Park Celebrates Centennial Anniversary!
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Community Celebrates Rouge Park's 100th Birthday! |
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At the Centennial Celebration weekend, July 27-29, Rouge Park was truly full of love and energy as we celebrated our beautiful park’s 100th birthday! From the talented artists and performers who filled the park with sounds, to the community resource tent that was bustling with connections and inspiration, to the very popular history display that shared the park’s long story, there was something for everyone to enjoy! We beat the heat with food trucks, danced it out with the hustle, enjoyed mesmerizing performances and had a field day with the bouncy houses and carnival games. And perhaps most special, everywhere you looked there was a smiling child with their face painted, tossing the football, playing at the playground and simply running wild and free while enjoying all that the park has to offer! A special thank you to all the honored guests who attended the Friday night centennial reception. The tent was packed with Friends of Rouge Park’s biggest supporters, including our board members, partners from the City’s General Services Department, dedicated elected officials, partners from organizations who program in Rouge Park, and our amazing network of funders and supporters, including the growing number of Rouge Park Centennial Club members! The evening was a wonderful reflection of the past and all that these individuals and organizations have put into the park over decades and an exciting recommitment to the future, knowing that working together, the best is yet to come for this beloved park. Thank you to our sponsors: Gilbert Family Foundation, The Pistons Foundation, U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, State Senator Sylvia Santana, State Representative Stephanie Young, and the Greening of Detroit. We appreciate you! |
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Family Movie Night in Rouge Park: INSIDE OUT 2 Join us on Saturday, July 19 from 7-10pm for a family friendly screening of Inside Out 2. We will be meeting at Sorensen Recreation Area (Sawyer & Spinoza Drive in south part of park) and start the night off with a pre-movie scavenger hunt activity at 7pm. Free prizes and free popcorn! Just make sure to bring a chair or blanket to sit on for the outdoor screening. Hope to see you there! Register on Eventbrite
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Join Yoganic Flow at 9AM for Sunday Morning Yoga next to the Pistons basketball courts in the Brennan parking lot. This Outdoor Hatha Yoga (traditional yoga) class is for all levels. No prior knowledge of yoga is required to participate. This relaxing class is appropriate for beginners as well as regular practitioners. Participants strengthen, calm and restore the mind and body with regular Hatha yoga practice.
- Yoga Mats Available on a first-come, first-serve basis - Completed Waiver required to participate. COMPLETE HERE - If rain is in the forecast, follow & check @YoganicFlow Instagram to learn if the class is cancelled due to weather. Class cancellations will ALWAYS be posted at least 1 hour before class is scheduled to start. |
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Join the Rouge Park Walking Club! Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30-8PM Meets at the Driving Range (Plymouth & Burt) With support from Detroit Parks Coalition and their partnership with Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Rouge Park’s Walking Club is led by Donulae T. Knuckles, PhD, RN. “Nurse Knuckles” also sponsors the Well-Able Walkers & Movers & Shakers Walking Club. Free online registration on the DPC website. All participants will receive “I Walk Detroit’s Parks” T-shirts.
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Honeysuckle Happy Hour Fridays, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM |
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Join us for Honeysuckle Happy Hour, a recurring event where volunteers help restore the historic trails of Rouge Park while enjoying great food and drinks! Each session, we’ll work together to remove invasive honeysuckle, improve the park’s natural beauty, and then celebrate our efforts with refreshments and camaraderie.
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Mosquitos and Summer Flowers Phenology Updates from the Land Stewardship Manager Antonio Cosme
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Mosquito season is in full swing, making fieldwork tough—but these pests play a vital role in the ecosystem, feeding birds, bats, and fish, and moving nutrients from water to land. Historically, they shaped Michigan’s settlement, with malaria once causing up to 75% of illnesses. In response, colonizers drained wetlands—damaging ecosystems still today. More in this in the link: In depth look at the difference between native and no native roses: 🔑 fringed stipule of the native rose. We’re also seeing both prairies and unkept lawns burst into summer bloom; Now’s the time to get out and see the show in Rouge Park’s Prairies. Read mosquitos and flowers by clicking the link! |
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The Nike Missile Base: 1955-1962 |
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In the Rouge Park Prairie, where the Butterfly Garden is today, nuclear missiles once stood ready to be launched at Russia. In 1955, the U.S. military built three Nike missile silos there. A command center, offices and barracks were built south of Joy Road between Trinity Street and Spinoza Drive, and north of Joy Road between the Detroit Mounted Police horse barn and Cozy Corners Recreation Area. Once a week they would conduct a test drill and raise the missiles up from the silos into launch position, then return them underground with a crowd of spectators watching from Outer Drive. Read more of the story and see aerial photos of the sites here. (photo from the Detroit News) |
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In honor of the centennial anniversary of Rouge Park, we've dedicated a page on our website to recognize our generous donors who have contributed $100 or more to support the Centennial Celebration. Their contributions help commemorate this milestone year and ensure the continued preservation of our beautiful park. Donations will be accepted throughout the year, and all donors will be acknowledged on this page as a heartfelt THANK YOU for their commitment to Rouge Park. |
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Click here to see the Edison Branch's July events. Edison Branch is now open on Saturdays but closed on Fridays. Hours: Mon. & Wed. 12-8pm, Tues., Thurs., & Sat. 10am-6pm SAVE THE DATE! Children's Butterfly Walk at the Rouge Park Wednesday, August 13, 4-5:30 Rouge Park Prairie Pathway Trailhead North, just north of 10598 Outer Dr W. in Rouge Park Join the Edison Branch Library and Friends of Rouge Park for a wondrous walk in the 70 acre prairie in Rouge park, where children can experience the magic of butterflies and explore nature. We'll also read some stories and have fun activities to explore the wonderful world of butterflies! This event is made possible by the Detroit Parks Coalition. |
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We would LOVE your help in supporting the future of Rouge Park! |
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